Editor’s Note: I originally published this post years ago during a completely different season of life, sharing what I thought was a foolproof “30-Day Sex Challenge.” Since then, my body, my health, and my journey have evolved immensely. I’m updating this space today because willpower or scheduled activity isn’t the fix for midlife intimacy challenges—understanding our changing biology is. Read on for the real, raw clinical truth about what happens to our bodies over 40, and the actual tools that bring permanent repair.

Ladies, it’s time we had a talk. Not THE talk, but you’ll definitely need to have had THAT talk before we have THIS talk. It’s a subject that gets joked about, glamorized, and sensationalized, but it’s rarely treated with the sincere power it’s capable of. I’m talking about sex. More specifically, it’s time we had a talk about how much sex you and your significant other are having. A little too personal? Trust me, I agree, and if this wasn’t a subject I felt extremely passionate about, I wouldn’t bring it up.

In the original post, I noted that after a 30 day sex challenge, what really changed was creating a dedicated chunk of time, every single day, completely focused on each other. Despite the good, the bad, and the ugly of the day, despite busy schedules and hurt feelings, we knew that nightly we were going to have the opportunity to put everything aside and just focus on us. This is especially true if you’ve never prioritized time quite like that before.

BUT what happens when we hit our 40s, 50s, and beyond? Our libido can decline—and that change is not from a lack of desire or because you no longer want to be close to your partner. It’s not midlife relationship fatigue, and it is certainly not a sign that your relationship is failing.

It simply means there are physiological changes happening in your body that can make sex feel uncomfortable, painful, and maybe even completely exhausting.

When I first wrote about the 30-Day Sex Challenge, I was in a completely different season of life. While my journey has taken many turns since then, one truth remains: Intimacy is one of the most powerful tools we have for our own healing and health. Whether you are in a long-term partnership or navigating a new chapter, reclaiming your connection to intimacy is a vital part of becoming the CEO of your own health.

To help break down what is actually happening to our bodies, I sat down for a raw, two-part conversation on Heidi’s Lane with the incredible Dr. Radhika Sharma. If you are struggling with this right now, please pause and give these episodes a listen:

Tune In: Behind the Sex & Libido Curtains from my podcast:

Breaking the Shame Barrier (The Psychological Load)

If you’re feeling any unwanted shifts in your libido, or if your body just doesn’t “feel” like it has in the past when it comes to intimacy, please know that you are not alone. I’ve been there too.

This shift happened for me a couple of years ago, and I was like, “What the heck is actually happening?” It was the hardest, most embarrassing sexual thing for me to go through. It was incredibly difficult for me to even admit out loud that I was experiencing vaginal dryness—having to use lubricant for the first time!—and having physical pain during sex.

I wondered, like maybe you have too: Is this a shame thing?

So many culturally- and religiously-based thoughts were filtering through my heart, and they felt heavy. All of this actually pushed me into an anxious, depressed spiral that made me feel like I was doomed. I thought I was going crazy—the depression, the anxiety, and the fears were so very real, and they affected every single area of my life.

And I kept thinking, “Why didn’t anyone tell me about this?”

Historically, women have been scared to talk about the libido and hormonal shifts that naturally occur as we age—even with their trusted OB/GYNs. We’ve been afraid to be vulnerable and ask for help.

Dr. Radhika Sharma is an OB/GYN, certified wellness coach, and co-host of the Double Scrub podcast. We went deep into what’s going on with our bodies as we age (especially “down there”) so that we can better understand the physiology and stop viewing these natural occurrences through a lens of brokenness.

When it comes to the shame we feel, Dr. Sharma attributes it to the specific biological season we’re in: We’re often done having babies, our periods are gone (or mostly gone), our estrogen is down, and it can mistakenly feel like our sex lives are supposed to be done too. In fact, the morning we recorded our first episode, she shared that she had literally just seen three women in her clinic who were experiencing exactly what I went through, and they all thought they were going crazy, too.

Hiding what’s going on from your partner can create a massive “intimacy gap” in a relationship. The first step toward healing those gaps isn’t physical connection; it’s radical, vulnerable honesty about what your body is experiencing. And your body is going through a lot, my friends.

Conquering the Sahara Desert (The Clinical Reality of GSM)

If you’re feeling like the Sahara Desert when it comes to intimacy, you’re experiencing more than just basic dryness. This clinical condition is called Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause (GSM).

Here is exactly what is happening under the hood:

As your estrogen levels drop, your vaginal tissue naturally loses its elasticity and moisture. GSM can result in:

• Recurring UTIs and more frequent urination

• Bacterial and pH imbalances

• Reduced arousal and difficulty achieving orgasm

• Intense pain during intercourse (specifically pain with penetration)

There’s a secondary biological battle going on here, too. As estrogen levels drop, cortisol (your stress hormone) can rise, increasing overall body stress and inflammation. At the same time, lower estrogen decreases the production of oxytocin—the hormone responsible for sexual arousal, bonding, and emotional connection. Because oxytocin naturally acts as a buffer to lower cortisol, this hormone flip creates a literal biological storm in your body!

Related Reading: Learn how Food Noise is linked to shifting hormones during perimenopause.

GSM is not something you can “willpower” your way out of. If intimacy hurts, the logical defense mechanism is to avoid it entirely. But avoidance is not the long-term repair we need.

While what you’re experiencing can be incredibly frustrating, Dr. Sharma shared some incredible, concrete medical and physical solutions to help repair your libido after 40:

1. Vaginal Estrogen (The Game Changer)

If you’re not familiar with vaginal estrogen, think of it like a baby aspirin for heart health, or Viagra for your lady parts. When it comes to improving your sex drive and comfort in your relationship, vaginal estrogen is queen. It helps reverse tissue thinning, alleviates painful intercourse, and directly restores deep moisture.

Note: Some women might experience a temporary yeast infection or strange discharge when first beginning vaginal estrogen. This is simply your body’s way of returning to a healthy, normal pH level. If this happens to you, stay the course—don’t give up!

The Medical Data: If you worry that topical, localized estrogen might cause breast cancer, the resounding clinical data finds that this information is false. Because it acts locally rather than systemically, it is even considered safe for many breast cancer survivors (always consult your personal physician).

2. Pure & Simple Lubrication

Another immediate solution for perimenopause-related intimacy issues is quality lubrication.

• What’s Best: Stick with organic coconut oil or high-quality, pure water-based lubricants (like classic KY).

• What to Avoid: Steer clear of almond oil and fancy, heavily scented, ultra-processed drugstore lubricants. Both of these can destroy the delicate vaginal microbiome and trigger painful infections.

3. Nervous System Recovery (Dilators & Lidocaine)

If you’re returning to intimacy after a long period of abstinence or pain, your vaginal muscles can involuntarily constrict and narrow, making intercourse even more painful. Please remember: You are not broken. You are fixable.

Using medical-grade silicone dilators—gradually moving up sizes at your own pace—can slowly and gently help to re-expand the tissue, making sex comfortable again. Temporary over-the-counter lidocaine gel is another excellent option to help desensitize the area and ensure intercourse is pain-free as you heal.

Bonus Tip: Improving your pelvic floor health is another foundational way to repair these issues. Learn more about pelvic floor health here.

The 30-Day Connection Re-Boot (For Both Partners)

As we navigate intimacy in our 40s and beyond, let’s collectively change the playbook:

• Shift the Focus: Let’s stop blaming the psychological dynamics of “low desire” in a relationship and start acknowledging the fluctuating hormones that are actually causing the physical roadblocks.

• Lighten the Cognitive Load: Remember that low sex drive is deeply tied to daily overwhelm, physical exhaustion, and mental fatigue—all of which are exacerbated by perimenopause.

• Create a Safe Space: Let’s view intimacy as a space for cooperative connection, where there is mutual vulnerability and open communication about physical comfort and emotional needs—without blame, pressure, or fear.

Ladies, please do not suffer in silence. You are not alone, and it is completely okay to pivot your strategy as your body evolves. Give yourself permission to be the true CEO of your own health.

Xo,

Related Reading to Support Your Journey:

• How to Beat Perimenopause Weight Gain: The 40+ Guide to Muscle and Metabolism

• It’s Getting HOT in Here || 10 Tips for Menopause Survival

• Sleep and Hormones: Why It’s Important for Weight Loss + Health

• Perimenopausal Food Noise: A Guide to Repairing 40+ Hormones